“Breaking down the wall” patients` and families` experience of multifamily therapy for young adult women with severe eating disorders

Abstract

Plain English summary Eating Disorders (EDs) are serious illnesses which lead to both sufferers and their families having a much reduced quality of life. The families of adults with a severe ED report a heavy burden of care, isolation and loneliness. The Regional Centre for Eating Disorders (RESSP) at Nordland Hospital in Bodø, Norway has developed an MFT-programme for the treatment of young adults with EDs and their families. Here, we present the findings of a study into how they experienced participation in this therapy. The data were collected by a researcher taking part in the groups as a field observer and who interviewed the group members (the young women and their families). The participants said that they found the MFT to be a place of connectedness and recognition where they learned to be open and share their feelings. They reported that their family had become better at talking to each other, including about difficult matters and feelings. MFT had been valuable and important, and the participants told us that they never before had had something so well-tailored to their needs. We think that MFT for adults will be amenable to further development and applicable to other settings.

Keywords

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia
• Eating disorders
• Multifamily therapy
• (Young) adults
• Family